Extra RX During State of Emergency

BULLETIN Number 18-B-09 To: All Insurance Companies and other Entities Licensed under Chapter 58 of the North Carolina General Statutes From: Life & Health Division Date: September 10, 2018 Subject: Hurricane Florence – North Carolina Operations On September 7, 2018, Governor Cooper issued EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 51, for the State of North Carolina due to the imminent threat of Tropical Storm Florence, which is now a Hurricane, and has the potential to make landfall this week. It is expected that the storm will cause significant damage to public and private property and may seriously disrupt essential utility services and systems in North Carolina. Executive Order 51 declares a state of emergency as defined in N.C.G.S. §§ 166A-19.3(7) and N.C.G.S. 166A-19.20(b) exists for all counties in North Carolina. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 58-3-228, this bulletin pertains to all health benefit plans as defined in N.C.G.S. § 58-3-167, the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees, and any optional plans or programs operating under Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes, and other stand-alone prescription medication plans issued by entities that are licensed by the Department. This bulletin is to remind health benefit plans of compliance requirements for operations under a state of emergency for purposes of obtaining extra prescriptions during a state of emergency or disaster. This authorization of extra prescriptions during this state of emergency in the State of North Carolina is valid for prescription medication requests made within 29 days of issuance of this bulletin, unless extended by an order issued by the Commissioner. Please refer any questions regarding this bulletin to the attention of Ted Hamby at LHInbox@ncdoi.gov. The internet link to Governor Cooper’s Executive Order is: https://governor.nc.gov/news/executive-orders http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_58/GS_58-3-228.pdf